Transmission lubricating means



Aug. 15; 1950 DENCE 2,519,122

TRANSMISSION LUBRICATING MEANS Filed Dec. 21, 1946 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 15, 1950 D. s. DENCE TRANSMISSION LUBRICATING MEANS Filed Dec. 21, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 15, i950 'TRANsMIssIoN LUBRICATINGLMQEANS f V Donald Deuce, Buchanam'Mich assignor'to 'Clark Equipment Company, Buchanan, Mich.,

Y a corporation of Michigan Application December 21, 194 Serial No. 717,742

Claims.

This invention relates to transmissionsand is more particularly directed to a transmission for busses or similar vehicles in which the engine ismou'nted in the rear of the vehicle and the transmission is provided with an angle drive from of the transmission to the drive the rear end axle-i t i it 1 Transmissions of this general type'have been made heretofore, but in" the'iabrication of such transmissions, 1 difficulty has been encountered.

due to the fact'thattransmission cases had to be made in two partsrequiring extremely ac curate machining of the-twm portions of the transmission case in order to provide the neces sary accuracy of location of theshafts and bearings, and also requiring dillicult assemblying operations. Furthermore, with such type of transmissions asheretofore-deve1oped,it was also i diflicult to provide proper :llubrication of gears and bearings due to the construction 01"- the transmission case. A

One object of the present whereby the-machining can all be doneion one integral: piece providing formore accurate alinement ofthe shafts; gears and bearings, and eliminating the'necessity of piloting one portion of the ease upon the other which heretofore has been objectionable from bothra machining standpoint and also from ofldesign.

Andther object- 0f the present invention isto invention is to. provide an angle drive transmission in which the transmissionicase is formed as a unitary part the standpoint of accuracy provideatransmission"construction of this type in which thegears may be -readily assembled into the main transmission unit, and in which* the angle drivelportionlof the transmissionmay be assembled as a unit and inserted into the transmission case as a unitary sub-assembly.

:Another advantage of the present invention is the provision of means inan angle drive transmission of'ithis type for securing adequate lubrication of thebearings and gears disposed 5 within the transmission. v

rAlstill iur thertadvantageioff the present construction is to provide a compact angle, drive transmission of unitary design which is easily asv sembled and in which the parts are located in proper alinemen't with respect to each other and the 'entirecasecan "be machined accurately asp aunitary assembly. t

Other objects and'adv'antag'es of the present invention will appear more fully from the follow-.

ing detailed "description which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying draWingafiWill disclose to those skilled in construction and operationof a preferred form of thepresent invention;

Inthedrawingsw' r 1 v Figure 1 is asection'al view through the transmission construction. I v Figure 2 is a' corresponding'sectional view of the angle drive portion of the transmission 9 Figure 3 islan elevational view, partly in section, showing the unitary transmission case; and

Figure 4 is a detail elevational view of the bearing cap for securing the angle drive assembly I in position on the transmission case l Referring now in detail "to the drawings, the

transmission case isindioated generally at 5 and includes a forward end wall 6 adapted to be securediltosthe-bell housing I which contains the clutch for the'vehicle; The clutch driving shaft 8 extends through the wall 6 and is suitably journalled thereon'by means of the bearings '9 and carries at its inner end, the enlarged drive i pinion. portion III, which, in turn, is recessed to receive the reduced end I2 of the main shaft-'- |3 of'the transmission, this; being journalled in therec'esses by means of. the roller bearings, |4.;

The pinion gear I0 is adapted to have meshing engagement with gear l5 secured on the counter shaft IS, the forward end of thiscounter shaft;-

being journalled at the wall 6 by means of the v.

bearing assembly 11.

--At' its opposite end, thecounter shaft is supported in a, partition wall l8 of the transmission case 5, by means of the roller bearing assembly; I9, whereby the shaft is journalled for rotationv 1' within the transmission housing. The housing.

5 projects 'rearwardly, beyond the partition wall-v; l8,'as indicated at 20; and is provided with the opening 22, closed bysuitableoover member 23, 5 which opening allowsfor assembly of the shaft l6withinthetransmission. r

The housing 5, beyond the portion 20 which defines the opening 22, isprovided with a reduced annularly extendingportion 24, which, in. turn, includes 'ansjangularly projecting portion 25,.shown in detail in Figure 2, formed integ rally therewith, and joined to the side wall of the transmission through the ribbed portion 26 as clearly shown in Figure 2. In addition, the,

partition wall l8 also projects to a point indicated {at Zlto form a supportfor the main drive-pinion} described in detail here assembly which will be inafter.

Mounted on the upper face of the housing is a control cover member 28, carrying a con; troltower 29,' -whi ch; as shown Figure 3, ex-

the-art, the particular tends laterally as indicated at 3D to rotate the control sleeve 32 and the control shaft 33, both journalled within the control tower 29 and carrying crank arms 34 and 35 respectively, at the projecting ends thereof. The sleeve 32, as shown in Figure l, carries a shifter control arm 36 which has engagement in the shifter fork 3'; mounted on the sliitt nail 23.13 carried withinfthe eontrol cover 28. The shaft 33 is provided with anactuating army39 engaging in a second shifter fork (not shown) mounted on the shift rail 40, which carries the shifter fork 42 for a purpose .to he described in detail hereinafter.

The shifter fork 31 has a shiftzportion engaging in the collar 43 of a clutoh member M, which is splined on the shaft l2 and carries clutch teeth at opposite ends thereof adapted 1107111651118 spectively with the pinion I or with the gear 45, rotatably mounted as by bearings 46 upon 'the shaft l3. Thus the shifter fork 31 is adapted to provide for direct =.clutching of the {pinion :to thelshaft 13 or the gear to :the :shaft The gear 45, in turn, has meshin engagement with a gear 4"! mounted upon the counter sha'ft 516,

Mounted on the shaft :13, adjacent the gear 45, is a gear 48, having meshing-engagement-with the gear d9 #Qdihlifid ithe :counter shaft 46., and provided (with clutoh iteeth adapted :to be en-- gaged .by :the clutch teeth i750 =of a :clut'chmember :52 adapted to Joe :actuated :by the shifter 'fork r 42. The clutchmember iszsplinedaonithe-shaft l3--:a;nd, on its apposite end, marries clutch teeth 53 adapted to engage the :elutoh teeth of gear :54 rotatablgy ournalled on the shaft it, and :in -:con-

stant meshing engagement with 5a gear :55 monrotatably secured to :the :countershafit. i' llhe clutch :member itself, is provided with external gear teeth .56., which areradanteditoshave meshine' ien agement with ansidler gear .15?! carried :on:a

lay shaft -58, this 'shaft being :shown out .of :posimission, the four forward speeds being produced by the meshing gear trains [O -1:5, :and 154-'5f5. when-the gear 54 ii-siclutchedito the shaft I13 :thus providing low speed. Similarly, when the gear is clutched to the :shaft f3, second speed .drive is provided "from the gears ill-4115 through :gears 49648. With the eluteh member 52 in :neutral position and clutch member #4 engaging with the gear d5, third speed drive is provided from gears l0-'|5 "through :gea'rs "Hi-e45 :to shaft :13 and direct drive is produced when the'rpinion 5126 isclutched directly to the shaft is dahrough the clutch member '43. V

"The shaft I3 is adapted to be supported intermediate its ends by the roller bearing assembly 66 which is supported in a split bearing portion of the partition wall I'B. The split bearing includes an upper bearing bracket member 66 2 which may be removed during insertion of the shafts with its gears through "the control "cover and thereupon into the transmission end, and

the member 52 is thembolted into positionto "hold the bearing in place 'after the ear and sh'aft have been assembled. This prevents undue -deflection of the shaft intermediate "its ends during operationof-thetransmission.

The projecting portion of the shaft 13, in-

dicated at 63, is splined to receive the bevel gear 64, which is thereby non-rotatably secured to this portion of the shaft. The shaft then projects outwardly through the cylindrical extension 24, and is supported by means of the double roller bearing assembly carried by the sleeve 66, seated in the extension 24 and held in positionbymeans :o'fithe cover .member .61 and the studs 68. The outer end of the shaft is threaded to receive the retaining nut '69 for locking the hearing assembly in position.

Oil'discharged .up against the under surface of the cover plate 28,between gears 54 and 64, is adapted :to :drain rearwardly along the baffle 10 and throughthe opening 12 formed in the extension 2 and the corresponding alined opening 13 :formed yin the :sleeve 66 and enters into the space between the bearings 65 for lubricating these-bearings.

Extending at an angle of approximately 52 to ithe axis :of- %the shaft l3,1the integral tubular portion 25 .of the housing 5 p ects toward one side of zthe transmission :case lin a substantially horizontal plane :and :is adapted to have suitable boss portions 55 and 1-6 formed therein providing a guide for the supporting sleeve assembly H which contains the output drive pinion. The sleeve assembly "1''! 'is :thereby positioned :by the bosses l5 and it within the :extension .25 of the transmission housing and contains suitable tapered bearing assemblies 18 and 1.8 which are provided :ior rotatably supporting the pinion shaft carrying the-bevel gear :pinion 2 at the inner end thereof.

Suitable spacing sleeves G83 and '84 provide proper spacing :of the :inner bearing races of the assembly'la :and ts-and intermediate the :sleeves 83 and :84, there :is provided the speedometer :gear 85 adapted ito mesh-with a suitable speedometer .ou'tput :gear .in :a' :conventional manner, the speedometer cable extending through :the opening181. A suitable brake {anchorage {is provided on "the i-bossed :portinn :SI of the extension 25 of Y the :case. The sleeve H :is interrupted, as in- .dicated .at :86, by an opening providing for new of oll into the sleeve through the portion '8] of the transmission case, -vzhereby oil from the gear 54 maybe discharged through this opening and of course, 'may :flo'w inside the sleeve. 11 to "proivide adequate lubrication of the bearings :18

In order to provide for return of oil passing through the :bearing '19, the extension 2515f the housing is provided .with :an opening :88 formed therein, and :the rover plate portion 189 of the sleeve '1! is cored, as indicated at 90, .to provide communication with the opening 8,8. This :Drovides for-return of oil from the outer end ofthe bearing TQ-threugh-the passageway 90 andiopeniing 38 "into .the annular space 592between the sleeve Ill and the inner surface of the housing 25 intermediate thebo's'ses 1'-5:and 1:6. 'Theshousing 25 is also cored out as indicated .at 9.3, to provide for flow of oil therethrough into "the l-opening within "which is disposed :the :pinion gear 182.

Thesha'fteae is adapted toihave-mountedonthe end thereof, the companion flange 94 of a universal joint assemblyby which'lthis shaft is 'conmected *to'the propeller shaft leading-to the drive axle, and suitable oil sealing means :95 is disposed about the hub of 'the .fiange :94 and within theopen end of the cylindrical extension 96 of the-sleeve I to prevent leakage of oilioutw'ardly 75 therethrough.

tends into the sump ortion 91; for the purpose of draining the transmission case when suchaction becomes necessary. It will also be noted that the case is provided forcooling of the transmissioncas'e so as to prevent the oil from overheatinga i g Thus is wherein there is a unitary transmissionhousing containing both the regular transmission ele-* ments and also the angle drive shaft and pinion by which the drive is transmitted from'the transmission to the drive axle. This case is so designedas to provide ease of machining and in sure accurate location of the various shafts and gears thereini Also a provision is made in the transmission case to allow cross lubrication of the bearings'in the angle drive :portionof' the trlansmissionas well as the bearings' which are 'adjacentthe bevel-gears by which the angle drive is produced. The sleeve assembly 11, which car riesthe'I entire angle driveshaft 'and'pinion assembly, can: be removedo'ut of the extension without requiring dismantling-of any other portion' ofthe transmission.

Theme of the bearing cap 62 provides for insertion of the entire main shaft assembly into supporting bearing means for said pinion shaft in said angular extension portion and communicating with the passageway between said angular extension portion and said main'body' portion for receiving lubricant discharged by.

said gear of said gear train to provide for lubricating the'bearing means for said pinion shaft,

will become apparent that have pro-rs vided a transmission of the-angle drive type:

position within the transmission through the control coveropening, and iti'is apparent that machining of the bearing. surfaces "can be pro'c' essed by placing the capkmember 62 in positio during the machining operations.- a -Suitable shim members, indicated at' I90,

may

be placed between the flange portion ofthe bush ing and the end of the cylindrical extension 24 of the transmission case to provide for proper adjustment of the bevel gears. Similarly, the

assembly of the shaft 80, within the sleeve Ti, can beadiusted to' provide proper meshing of gears between the flange portion 'ofsleeve '11 and the face of the extension 25 of the transmission case.

54 and 82 by providingshims indicated at I 113 ,WhileI am aware that/various changes" may 1 be made'in certain details of the'pres'ent construction without in any way departing from the underlyin nrinciple's of the present invention. I do'not intend tobe limit d except as defined by the" scope I i I" 'claim':'

1. In an an le drive tran mission'havinga main shaft. afirst bevelgearadiacent the rear end of said main shaft, and a gear of a gear train on said main shaft forwardly of said first bevel ear, and a pinion shaft assembly extending angularly forwardly of said first bevel gear and including a pinion shaft having a second bevel gear fixed thereto having meshing en a ement with said first bevel gear, the combinationof a housing having a main body portion for housing said main shlaft, said first bevel gear, and said gear of said gear train, main shaft supporting means including a partition extending transversely of said-main body portion for supporting bearing means for said main shaft between said first bevel gearand saidgear of--said'gear train, said housing havingan angular extension portion for enclosing said pinion shaft assembly said angularj extension portion and said -main body 'portiori' having a passage-way"therebetween adjacentsaid gear of said gear train, sleeve means for and spirit of 1 the appended claims.

and means defining lubricant passageway means extending from said sleeve to said main body portion for lubricatingthe bearing supported by said main shaft supporting means:

2. In an angle drive transmission having a main shaft, a first bevel gear adjacent the rear end of said main sh'aft, and a gear of a gear train on .isaidmain shaft forwardly of said first bevel gear,'and a'pinion shaft assembly extending angularly forwardly of said first bevel gear and including'a pinion shaft having a second bevel gear fixed thereto having meshing engagement :iwith said first bevel gear, :the combination of a housing having a main body portion for housing said main shaft, said first bevel gear, and said gear of said gear train, and an angular extension portion forsaid'housing for enclosing said pinion shaft assembly, saidangular extension portion and said main body portion having a passageway therebetween adjacent said gear of said gear train, main shaft supporting means including a partition extending transversely of said main: .body portion for supporting bearing means for said'main shaft between said. first bevel gear and salidgear of said gear train, sleeve means for supporting bearing means for said pinion shaft in said angular extension portion and communicatingwith the passageway between said angular extension portion and said main bodyportion for 2 receiving lubricant discharged by said gear of said gear-train to provide for lubricating of the bearin means for said pinion'shaft. i

3. In an angle drive transmission having a main shaft, a first bevel gear adjacent the rear end of said main shaft, and a gear of a gear train on said main shaft forwardly of said first bevel gear, and a pinion shaft assembly extending'angularly forwardly of said firstbevel gear and including a 'p'inicn shaft havinga'second bevel gearfixed thereto having meshing engagement with said, first bevel gear, the combination'of a housing having 'a'main body portion for housing said main "shaft, said first bevel gear, and said gear of said gear train, and an angular extension portion for said housing for enclosing said pinion shaft assembly,"s aid angularexte'nsion portion and said main body portion having a passageway therebetween "adjacent said-gear of said gear train, main shaft supporting means including a partitionextending transversely of saidmain body portion for supporting ibearing means for said main shaft'between said first bevel gear and said gear 'of' said gear train, sleeve means for supporting bearingmeans for said pinion shaft in i said angular extension portion and communicating with the passageway between said angular extension portion and said main body portion for receiving lubricant discharged by said gear of said gear train to provide for lubricating of the bearing means for said pinion shaft, and means defining a lubricant passageway means from said sleeve means to said main body portion providing for the return of lubricant from said sleeve means to said main body portion.

on said main shaft forwardly of said first bevel 7 gear, zand :a pinion shaft assembly extending rangulariy forwardly :of said. first :bevel gear andimcludingsa'pinion shaft havingasecond bevel gear fixed Ether-etc having Lmeshing engagement with said first abevel gear, the mombination of a :housing :having a main doody portion for housing said mainshaftand including anzintegral rearwardly extending end portion in "which said rear end of said main shaft and said first bevel gear are adapted to be disposed, main shaft supporting means including :a partition extending transversely :of said .main body wportion for :supporting first bearing means .for said :main shaft :between said first bevel gear and said gear of said gear train, said projecting :end portion of said main body providing :for supporting second bearing means for the end portion :of said main shaft projecting rearwardly :of :said bevel gear, said housing having an angular :extension portion for enclosing asaid "pinionish'aft assembly, said an-' gular :extension 1porti0n;and;'said main :body portion having 'a passageway"therebetween adjacent said gearof said gear :train, mort meansfor conducting lubricant tto said-second bearing forsaid main shaft, baffle means for said housing for conducting :lubricant thrown by said gear of said gear train thereagainst to said port means for lubricating said :second bearing means for said main :shaft, sleeve .means'for supporting bearing means 'for said minion :shaft :in :said angular extension portion, and acommunicating with the passageway between said angular extension and said main "body zportion for receiving lubricant discharged 'by said *gear of :said gear train :to provide for lubrication-of the bearing means .for said pinion :sh'aft, zandrmeans defining lubricant passageway means extending from said :sleeve means :to said main body portion for lubricating said first heating :means carried in said main shaft supporting means.

75.1111 an angle adrive transmission having a housingincludingaimain body portion for housinga main shaft having-a first-bevel gear'thereon, the combination-cram angular extension body portion extending forwardly of said main body portion from the :end thereof enclosing isaid -first bevel gear and open .at its outer end, a sleeve adapted to :"be ,disposed ,in said angular extension portion, .boss :means :for said angular extension housingifor supporting said sleevetinspa'ced relation inwardly :of the inner surf ace of said-angular extension portion, a pinion shaft extending through :said :sleeve :memberand having a second bevel gear at :the inner -.end thereof, bearing means betweensaid pinion shaft and said sleeve for rotatably mounting said pinion shaft with said second bevel gear .in meshing engagement with saidiirst bevelzgear, and means for detachably securing said :sleeve in :said angular extension portion whereby said sleeve, said pinion shaft, .and "said :second bevel gear are adapted to be removed through the openend of said angular extension portion, a first opening between said :angular extension :portion and said main bode portion, and said sleeve :having an opening aligned with-saidfirst opening :to receive lubricant fromzsaid main body portion for lubricating said bearing'means for said pinion shaft.

:6. :The angle shaft assembly of claim 55 characterized by said bearing means comprising :a pair of bearings one at each of the 'upper and lower ends 'of said pinion-shaft, and in whichthe opening :of said sleeve imember is disposed be-j tween said pair of hearings, and passageway 8 means extending from above :the bearing means at ithB upper :end of said pinion shaft and betweenthe outer surface of :said sleeve and the inner surface :o'f said angular extension portion for conducting lubricant from the latter to the main bodyiportion of 'therhousing.

-7.'In an angle drive transmission having a main shaft, ra first beve'l gear carried adjacent the rear :end of ,said main :shaft, a gear on said main shaft forwardlyiof said first :be-vel geanand a pinion shaft assembly extending angularly forwardly from said rear end of :said 'main shaft, and including 'a pinion shaft having 'a second bevel gearfixed thereto having meshing'engagement with said first bevel gear, the combination of a vhousing having :a main :body portion for housing :said main shaft, :said :first bevel gear,

and'said gear on said-main shaft,:and an angular integral extension portion for housing said pinion :shaft assembly, sleeve :means for supporting bearing means for-said pinion shaft in-said angular extension portion, passageway means between said main body portion and said angular extension 'portion adjacent said gear on said main shaft, and said sleeve :member having an openingaligned withsaid passageway for receivingilubricant thrown by-said gear on "said main shaft -.to provide for :luhricating :said bearing means for said pinion shaft.

8. The combination of zclainr'l characterized by the provision of :further passageway means for :said angular "extension portion for conducting .tlubricantfrom said sleeve to said bevel gears.

*9. "The combination :of claim 7 characterized by :the provision 'of bearing means for supporting end "of said rmain shaft adjacent said first bevel gear, 'andby the provision of further passageway .means for said angular extension portion through which lubricant passes from said :sleeve .to-lsaid bearingmeans for said main shaft.

:10. Theroom'bination of claim-'7 "characterized by the provision .of second bearing means for journalling of the portion of said'mainshaft between'the gear thereon and said first bevel-gear, further passageway :me'ans TfOI said angular extension portion :through which lubricant passes from said sleeve to said second heating "means for said main shaft, third bearing *means :for journalling the .rear end portion of said main shaft, port means for conducting lubricant to said athird :bearing means, and =bafile means for said housing .for conducting lubricant thrown by said gear on said main shaft there against .to said port means for lubricating said third bear- 5 ing means for said main shaft.

DONALD S. DENCE.

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